Weft-inserter drive for shuttleless looms



P 1968 I w. J. CRENSHAW ETAL 3,399,700

WEFT-INSERTER DRIVE FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Filed Jan. 6. 1967 7\/ WALTER. J. CQEQSHAW ancZWILLIAM P. M12231 BMMWW A'ITORNEY3 United States Patent "ice 3,399,700 WEFT-INSERTER DRIVE FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Walter J. Crenshaw, Clemson, S.C., and William P. Durst, Atlanta, Ga., assignors to Riegel Textile Corporation. Ware Shoals, S.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 607,718 9 Claims. (Cl. 139-123) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for manually disconnecting the drive of the weft-inserting member of a shuttleless loom from a central motion mechanism, especially to enable reverse operation of the loom for finding the pick. A locking means also is provided for locking the weft-inserting member against unintentional movement when the drive is disconnected.

This invention relates to shuttleless looms of the type in which the weft or filling is inserted by a rod-like weftinserting member or rapier which is reciprocably movable into the shed and outwardly to a withdrawn position. The invention is particularly concerned with improvements in the drive for the weft-inserting members of looms of the type known as an IWER loom, such as is disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,837,124, issued June 3, 1958, for example.

As is well known, whenever a mispick or a flaw occurs requiring removal of filling from patterned cloth being woven, it is usually necessary to find the pick by letting back the cloth and warps and resetting the pattern device, and then making any required adjustments in cloth and warp tension. In looms of the type disclosed in said patent, due to the fact that the weft-inserting member or rapier is moved at all times during operation of the loom in timed relation to the reed, heedles, Warp let-off mechanism, cloth take-up mechanism, etc., the loom could not be driven to operate in a reverse manner and, therefore, it has been necessary heretofore to perform all the aforementioned pick finding operations manually and independently of each other, all of which operations are exacting and time consuming and are, therefore, subject to error.

The reason why the rapier of such a loom has prevented reverse operation of the loom is that, during normal operation of the loom, the warp shed is partially open immediately before the rapier enters the corresponding end of the warp shed, and the warp shed is fully open immediately before the rapier completes its inward stroke. In its outward stroke, the shed closes on the rapier so that the rapier is actually engaged by the warp yarns during about two-thirds of each outward stroke thereof and, immediately before the rapier leaves the shed, the shed is fully closed. Thus, if an attempt was made to operate the loom in a reverse manner, the shed would be fully closed at the instant the rapier would have to enter the shed, with the result that the rapier would break the warp yarns in the course of its inward movement.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple and economical means for quickly connecting and disconnecting the weft-inserting member of a loom of the type described from the main drive mechanism of the loom, at will, without materially altering the existing mechanical connection means between the main drive mechanism and the weft-inserting member. Thus, the loom may be operated in a reverse manner, preferably by means of a reversible motor associated with the main drive mechanism, without disturbing the timed relation of the pattern device with respect to other weaving instrumentalities of the loom, such as the cloth take-up mechanism,

Patented Sept. -3, 1968 thereby reducing the time and possibility of errors in effecting the pick finding operation.

In the disclosed embodiment, the mechanical connection means between the main drive mechanism and the weft-inserting member comprises a composite telescoping link having a pair of relatively longitudinally movable components interconnecting a pick lever and a rotary crank driven by the main drive shaft of the loom. The pick lever is pivotally supported on the loom and connected to the weft-inserting member, and a releasable couping means is mounted on the composite shaft, The coupling means includes a first coupling member fixed on one ofthe link components and a second coupling member rotatably mounted on the other link component, and the coupling members are provided with cooperating coupling portions capable of engagement one behind the other when the coupling members are brought together and are relatively rotated for coupling the pair of link components together. Thus, the coupling members may be relatively rotated and disengaged, when desired, so the loom may be operated in the reverse manner, without reciprocating the weft-inserting member.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated. other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a schematic plan view of a shuttleless loom showing the improved mechanical connection means between the main drive mechanism and the weft-inserting members, and showing the coupling members in disengaged, spaced apart, relationship;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view looking in the general direction of the arrow 2 of FIG- URE 1, showing a preferred means for locking and thereby immobilizing the weft-inserting members against unintentional movement;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view similar to the central portion of FIGURE 1, with the composite link of the present invention extending between and connected to the rotary crank of the central motion mechanism and the pick lever extending from the weft-inserting member, with the coupling members in active or engaged relationship;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view through the composite link of FIGURE 3, showing the coupling members in active or engaged relationship;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the coupling means of FIGURE 4, showing the coupling members thereof in disengaged axially spaced relationship; and

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the male coupling member looking along line 77 in FIGURE 6.

The shuttleless loom with which the present invention is associated may be of a type known as American IWER shuttleless weaving machine and such as is disclosed in Ancet et al. US. Patents Nos. 2,837,124; 2,960,118; and 2,977,996, issued June 3, 1958; Nov. 15, 1960; and Apr. 4, 1961, for example. conventionally, looms of this type comprise a central circular motion mechanism 10 driven by an electric motor 11, which mechanism may be of the type disclosed in said Patent No. 2,837,124, to which reference is made for a detailed disclosure thereof. In this instance, motor 11 is of the reversible type so the loom may be operated in the normal forward direction or in a reverse direction at the will of the operator.

The central motion mechanism 10 includes a driven rotary element 12 in the form of an upright drive shaft having means, including a cam a rotating therewith and a follower, not shown, for reciprocating an arm 13 for wardly and rearwardly to impart forward and rearward oscillation to a lay 14 and a reed 15 thereon. The central motion mechanism also drives other weaving instrumentalities such as a warp let-off mechanism and a cloth take-up mechanism 21, as well as a suitable pattern device, not shown, such as harness cams, a dobby mechanism, or a jacquard mechanism. As shown, the warp let-01f mechanism 20 and the cloth take-up mechanism 21 are driven by suitable positive drive connections 23, 24 with an auxiliary output shaft 22 projecting from one side of and driven by the central motion mechanism 10.

Warp let-otf mechanism 20 drives a warp beam B from which warp yarns, not shown, pass forwardly through suitable warp shed forming means 25, which may be in the form of heddles or harnesses controlled by the aforementioned pattern device. Such pattern device may be given by suitable connections with auxiliary output shaft 22, such as are shown in the copending application of Walter J. Crenshaw et al., Ser. No. 538,995 filed Mar. 31, 1966, and entitled Apparatus for Making Plush Fabrics and Method, for example. Accordingly, an illustration and description of the pattern device and the manner in which it is driven by central motion mechanism 10 is deemed unnecessary. From the shed forming means 25, the warp yarns pass through reed 15 where they are interwoven with Weft or filling yarns 26 drawn from a stationary supply or supplies 27 by one or two weft-drawing or weftinserting members. The thus woven cloth is taken up on a take up roll 21a of cloth take-up mechanism 21.

In this instance, the loom is provided with two elongate weft-drawing or weft-inserting members or rapiers 30, although a single rapier may be used. Rapiers 30 are reciprocated into and out of respective warp sheds and in front of reed 15 in timed relation to oscillation of the reed by connections with the central motion mechanism 102 The mechanical connection means between the central motion mechanism 10 and the rapiers 30 is similar to that conventionally employed on shuttleless looms of this type, with the exception of modifications made therein according to the instant invention, as will be later described. The outer end portions of rapiers 30 are carried by a tubular guide block or cuff member 32 mounted for inward and outward movement with respect to the loom on a guide rod 33 (FIGURE 2). Guide rod '33 is mounted on an elongate support means or frame 34 carried by and extending outwardly from one side of the loom. The outer portion of frame 34 may be supported on a suitable standard 35 resting upon the floor which supports the loom.

The mechanical connection means between rapiers 30 and central motion mechanism 10 comprises a .pick lever whose front end is pivotally connected to cuff member 32 (FIGURE 2), and whose rear end is pivotally connected to a swing lever 41. Lever 41 extends inwardly and is pivotally connected to the loom frame, as at 42 (FIGURE 1). The upright drive shaft 12 of central motion mechanism 10 has a rotary crank 44 fixed thereon, and distal end portions of a composite link 45 are pivotally connected to crank 44 and pick lever 40.

Composite link 45 is peculiar to the instant invention and may be readily installed in place of the usual onepiece type link conventionally employed in looms of this type. Composite link 45 is especially constructed to accommodate normally active releasable coupling means 46 which may be inactivated for rendering ineffective the mechanical connection means between the central motion mechanism 10 and rapiers 30 so the rapiers need not be reciprocated during rotation of the crank 44, at the will of the operator.

Accordingly, the composite link 45 comprises a pair of first and second relatively longitudinally movable or telescoping components shown, respectively, in the form of an elongate tubular shaft 51 and an elongate rod 52. Rod 52 is telescopically positioned within tubular shaft 51 and may be guided for longitudinal movement therein by means of a pair of bushings 53, 54. The distal ends of link components 51, 52 are provided with a pivot block 55 and a bifurcated member 56, respectively, to facilitate pivotally connecting tubular shaft 51 and rod 52 to the outer end of crank44 and to a medial portion of pick lever 40, respectively.

The coupling means or coupling 46 is provided for quickly and easily connecting and disconnecting tubular shaft 51 and rod 52 with respect to each other. As best shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, coupling 46 comprises a first or female coupling member 61 and a second. or male coupling member 62. First coupling member 61 is shown in the form of a tubular hub whose body encirc'lesand is suitably secured to the outer end portion of tubular shaft 51 remote from crank 44, as by being pressed or welded thereon. The body of second coupling member 62 is also of tubular form and is loosely mounted on a medial portion of link rod 52 so the second coupling member may be easily manually rotated on rod 52 relative to coupling member 61. The exterior surface of the body of coupling member 62 may be roughened or knurled as shown.

Means are provided for preventing endwise movement of male coupling member 62 and thereby maintaining coupling member 62 in a predetermined position with respect to rod 52. To this end, rod 52 is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced abutments 64, 65 thereon which may be in the form of washers welded or otherwise suitably secured on rod 52. Washer 64 engages the outer end of the body of male coupling member 62, and washer 65 may fit in a suitable recess in the other end of the body of coupling member 62.

The inner end of second coupling member 62, adjacent first coupling member 61, is provided with a pair of radially projecting substantially diametrically opposed coupling portions or Wing portions 66 adapted to be loosely received within 3. preferably circular cavity 67 formed in the corresponding end of first coupling member 61. The depth of cavity 67 should be substantially equal to or greater than the thickness of wing portions 66. The outer end of coupling member 61, adjacent coupling member 62, is provided with a pair of substantially diametrically opposed inwardly projecting segmental coupling portions 70 which are spaced apart and so formed that the body of second coupling member 62 may be readily received between the proximal surfaces of segmental coupling portions 70. Also, the proximal ends of segmental coupling portions 70 of first coupling member 61 are spaced apart so as to permit wing portions 66 of coupling member 62 to be passed therebetween as they are introduced into or withdrawn from cavity 67.

It is apparent that, when coupling members 61, 62 are brought together, during which rod 52 is telescopically moved longitudinally within tubular shaft 51, wing portions 66 of coupling member 62 will be positioned within cavity 67 and coupling member 52, and then may be rotated relative to rod 52, shaft 51, and the first coupling member 61, so as to position the wings 66 of second coupling member 62 behind the segmental coupling portions 70 of first coupling member 61, thus fixedly coupling the two composite link components 51, 52 together. The outer edges of wing portions 66 may be beveled or rounded, as shown, to facilitate moving the same into registration with segmental portions 70.

In order to prevent unintentional rotation of coupling member 62 relative to coupling member 61 when the cooperating coupling portions 70, 66 thereof are in engagement one behind the other, the end face of each wing portion 66 adjacent tubular shaft 51 may be provided with a shallow recess 72 therein, either of which may be brought into registration with a spring loaded detent 73 carried by the body of first coupling member 61 and projecting into cavity 67. Thus, whenever wing portions 66 are rotated with the body of coupling member 62 to position the same behind segmental coupling portions 70 of coupling member 61, a recess 72 may be engaged by detent 73 to yieldably secure the couplings against relative rotation. On the other hand, when the couplings are to be disengaged, the detent 73 may readily be overridden by an operator turning coupling member 62 relative to coupling member 61, so the wing portions 66 of coupling member 62 may be readily withdrawn from cavity 67 between the corresponding ends of segmental coupling portions 70.

In operation, whenever a pick-out of filling becomes necessary due to a mispick or a flaw in a woven length of cloth, the operator stops the loom, such as by stopping electric motor 11, with the rapiers 30 occupying the normal withdrawn position with respect to lay 14. Thereupon, coupling members 61, 62 are disengaged in the manner heretofore described. It should be noted that, as the operator withdraws coupling member 62 from cavity 67 of coupling member 61, abutment 64 causes rod 52 to be partially withdrawn from tubular shaft 51, thus moving the rapiers 30 and cuff member 32 abnormally outward; ie, to a position outwardly of the normal withdrawn position of rapiers 30.

When the loom is restarted to operate in either the reverse or forward manner while the coupling members 61, 62 are disengaged, it is apparent that crank 44 rotates and thus imparts longitudinal reciprocatory motion to tubular shaft 51 of composite link 45. In order to prevent tubular shaft 51 from then imparting reciprocatory motion to link rod 52, due to frictional engagement therebetween, and to thereby immobilize rapiers 30 while also preventing female coupling member 61 from colliding with male coupling member 62, a releasable locking means, in the form of a latch 76, is carried by support means or frame 34 and adapted to be moved into engagement with pick lever 40 when the weft-inserting members or rapiers 30 occupy the abnormally withdrawn position, thus restraining the rapiers 30 in the latter position.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, latch 76 is of hook-like configuration and is pivotally mounted, as at 77, on one side of frame 34 and outwardly of pick lever 40. Thus, when the front end portion of pick lever 40 is moved to the abnormal outward position by virtue of the separation of the coupling members 61, 62, in the manner heretofore described, the operator simply swings latch 76 from the dotted-line position to the solid-line position of FIGURE 2. Thereupon, and after the flaw in the woven cloth has been removed, electric motor 11 may be energized manually to rotate drive shaft 12 of central motion mechanism in the reverse manner, during which the pattern mechanism (not shown), the warp let-off mechanism 20, the cloth take-up mechanism 21 and other weaving instrumentalities of the loom will be operated in the reverse manner while the rapiers 30 remain stationary, thus effecting rearward movement of the cloth and warps relative to lay 14 and reed 15 while maintaining the required timed relationship between the cloth being woven and the pattern device, as is necessary in finding the pick. When the fiaw in the cloth has been corrected, the operator simply returns latch 76 from the solid-line to the dotted-line positions of FIGURE 2 and then connects the coupling members 61, 62 together in the manner heretofore described, whereupon normal operation of the loom may be resumed. Preferably, the portion of tubular shaft 51 adjacent crank 44 may be provided with a passage 51a therein to permit the ingress or egress of air from tubular shaft 51 whenever relative longitudinal movement is efiected between rod 52 and tubular shaft 51.

It is thus seen that I have provided a simple and econornical means for quickly manually disconnecting the drive of the weft-inserting member or members of a shuttleless loom from the central motion mechanism, along with a locking means for locking the weft-inserting members in a withdrawn position so the loom may be operated in either the forward or reverse manner, as desired, to facilitate the pick finding operations whenever a mispick or a fiaw occurs in the cloth being woven.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a 6 generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. The improvement in a shuttleless loom having a lay, warp shed forming means, at least one elongate weft-inserting member reciprocably movable into the shed and outwardly to a withdrawn position adjacent one side of the loom for inserting filling from a stationary supply into the warp shed, a driven rotary element, and connection means normally connecting said rotary element to said weft-inserting member for reciprocating the same; said improvement comprising normally active releasable coupling means interposed in said connection means for rendering said connection means inelfective to reciprocate said weft-inserting member during rotation of said rotary element, and releasable locking means for releasably locking said weft-inserting member in a withdrawn position while said coupling means is released.

2. The improvement in a shuttleless loom having a lay, warp shed forming means, at least one elongate weft-in serting member reciprocably movable into the shed and outwardly to a withdrawn position adjacent one side of the loom for inserting filling from a stationary supply into the warp shed, a central motion mechanism for oscillating the lay and driving said shed forming means, and said central motion mechanism including a driven rotary crank located rearwardly of said lay; said improvement comprising connection means normally connecting said crank to said weft-inserting member for reciprocating the same, said connection means comprising a pick lever pivotally supported on said loom and connected to said weft-inserting member, a composite link including a pair of first and second relatively longitudinally movable components having distal end portions thereof pivotally connected to said crank and said lever, respectively, and normally active releasable coupling means interposed in said connection means and serving when active to maintain said components in fixed relationship and serving when released to break the fixed relationship between said components and thereby permit relative longitudinal movement therebetween without reciprocating said weft-inserting member while said crank is rotating.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said loom includes support means carried by the loom and supporting said weft-inserting member for reciprocation thereon, and releasable locking means comprising a movable latch carried by said support means and adapted to engage said lever when said weft-inserting member occupies a Withdrawn position to insure that said first component will not transmit longitudinal movement to said second component.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which one of said components comprises an elongate at least partially tubular shaft and the other of said components comprises an elongate rod partially telescopically positioned in said tubular shaft, and said coupling means comprises first and second interengageable and relatively releasable coupling members mounted on said tubular shaft and said rod, respectively.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which said loom includes support means carried by the loom and supporting said weft-inserting member for reciprocation thereon, and releasable locking means comprising a movable latch carried by said support means and adapted to engage said lever when said weft-inserting member occupies a withdrawn position to insure that said first component will not transmit longitudinal movement to said second component.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which said latch is so positioned on said support means that engagement thereof with said lever maintains said weft-inserting member in a position further outwardly of said one side of the loom than that to which said weft-inserting member is moved by said mechanical connection means to thereby prevent said first and second coupling members from colliding during said relative longitudinal movement between said components while said crank is rotating.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which said first coupling member is mounted on one end of said tubular shaft and said second coupling member is mounted on a medial portion of said rod, at least one of said coupling members being rotatable manually on and restrained from axial movement relative to the component on which it is mounted, and said coupling members having cooperating coupling portions capable of engagement one behind the other when said coupling members are brought together and said one coupling member is rotated relative to the other of said coupling members.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which said one 8 coupling member is said second coupling member mounted on said medial portion of said rod.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, including means for yieldably securing said coupling members against relative rotation while said cooperating coupling portions are in engagement one behind the other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 6/ 1949 Australia.

HENRY S. IAUDON, Primary Examiner. 

